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In the southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, there were many people, both children and adults, who were affected by racism in the 1930’s. As shown throughout the book To Kill A Mockingbird, racism has affected the way people treat others, leading to false accusations and death. Tom Robinson and Bob Ewell were both victims. It was expected to hear unkind things being said, however, it took more than strength to overcome the damaging words. With Tom being accused of rape, there had to be a trial, however, there was no need, since Tom was African American. On Page 316, Mrs. Maudie says, “The handful of people in this town who say fair play is not marked White Only; the handful of people who say fair trial is for everybody, not just us…” This proves
In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, racism is a major theme. Atticus Finch, the narrator’s father, defends a negro, Tom Robinson, in the court of law against a white man, Bob Ewell. Robinson had reportedly raped a young white girl, Mayella Ewell. But according to Robinson he had gone to help Mayella, as he often did, with work around the house. As he starts helping Mayella, she tries to get Tom to kiss her and will not let him out of the house. Bob Ewell sees this and chases Tom out of the house and accuses him of raping his daughter. Atticus goes against almost everyone in Maycomb County’s opinion in defending Tom Robinson. Throughout the course of the novel, racism effects many characters such as Tom and Helen Robinson, Scout and Jem Finch, and Mayella and Bob Ewell. All these characters had there lives
One of the storylines in the novel is the Robinson-Ewell trial. Tom Robinson is an innocent African-American, accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a lower-class white girl. At the trial hearing, everyone is able to tell his or her side of the story before Tom is allowed to speak. All stories, however, offer two different versions of Tom and Mayella’s relationship. Moreover, Mayella and Bob Ewell tell the jury what they expect to hear, about Tom being a monster. They explain that there was no reason for his actions against Mayella. According to them, along with the rest of Maycomb, it's just expected that a black man would rape any white woman if he had the opportunity. The Tom spoken of by the Ewells shows the stereotypes that justify whites to be superior to blacks. However, Tom tells the jury about his innocence. He pr...
One of the major events in Harper Lee’s award-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird is Tom Robinson’s trial. It is based on the Scottsboro Case that took place in 1931 in Alabama, in which several black men were accused of raping two white women. Both the Scottsboro Boys and Tom Robinson are unfairly judged, however, because of prejudice against colored people. The racial discrimination makes whites’ testimony more believable even when it contradicts itself. The same happens in To Kill a Mockingbird. As we delve deeper into the case and get increasingly closer to the truth, it is quite suprising to see that Mayella Ewell is the true villain rather than a victim. She shall and must bear full responsibility for her actions because she makes the decision to tempt Tom Robinson, gives false testimony in court that directly leads to Tom’s death, and has been well aware of the consequences of her behaviors.
Throughout the novel Harper Lee explores the racism, prejudice, and the innocence that occurs throughout the book. She shows these topics through her strong use of symbolism throughout the story.
Hypocrisy is as much a part of Maycomb’s society as church and community spirit. For example, Mrs. Merriweather talks about saving the poor Mruans from Africa, but she thinks black people in her community are a disgrace (p.234). The hypocrisy of this teaching is shown as soon as she mentions the word ‘persecution’. This is due to the fact that she herself is persecuting the black people of Maycomb by not raising an eyebrow at the killing of innocent black men. Furthermore, it is obvious Bob Ewell is abusive to his daughter, Mayella, and that he is the one who violated her, not Tom Robinson (p.178). Since there is such hypocrisy in Maycomb, there are excuses made for whites. The jury probably thinks that if they pronounce Tom innocent the citizens will mock them as they do to Atticus. Harper Lee uses hypocrisy to show how the people of Maycomb are so engulfed in a variety of elements that they unknowingly complete acts of unjustified discrimination.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”-Martin Luther King Jr. This quote shows how racism is like darkness and hate and love and light are the only way to drive racism out. The story takes place at the time of the great depression. Scout lives in a very racist and judgement city in the south. A black male is accused of raping a white woman. Scouts dad Atticus gets appointed to be the defendant's lawyer. Racism is an antagonist in To Kill A Mockingbird because the white people of Maycomb discriminate the blacks and make them feel lesser. The theme racism can be harmful to everyone is shown by many characters throughout the book.
Racism presents itself in many ways in the town of Maycomb. Some are blatant and open, but others are more insidious. One obvious way that racism presents itself is in the result of Tom Robinson’s trial. Another apparent example is the bullying Jem and Scout had to endure as a result of Atticus’s appointment as Tom Robinson’s defense attorney. A less easily discernible case is the persecution of Mr. Dolphus Raymond, who chose to live his life in close relation with the colored community.
It was clear based on the evidence that Tom was innocent, but with the jury consisting of only white men in 1930's Alabama, they decided to convict Tom only because it was a white man's word against a black man's. This upsetted Jem and Scout as they were sure that Tom and Atticus would win the case. It made them realize that people with prejudice will make unfair decisions, even when it's clear that they are making the wrong decision: "...but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed." (Lee 323). Seeing this changes Jem and Scout's perception of the people living in Maycomb, as they start to question whether the people of Maycomb were as good-hearted as they thought. Nowadays, there would not be racial prejudice in a courtroom, however the jury that was biased during Tom's trial could be the modern equivalents of people who use racial profiling, racial bias, and stereotyping. The kids and the reader learn that people who make judgements and decisions based on prejudice are people who should not be considered
To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee's only novel, is a fictional story of racial oppression, set in Maycomb, A.L. in 1925 to 1935, loosely based on the events of the Scottsboro trials. Unlike the story however, the racial discrimination and oppression in the novel very accurately portrays what it was like in the 1920's and 1930's in the south. Tom Robinson, the black man accused of raping a poor low class white girl of 19, never stood a chance of getting a fair trial. This can be supported by giving examples of racially discriminatory and oppressive events that actually took place in the south during the time period in which the novel is based. In addition to actual historical events, events and examples from the book that clearly illustrate the overpoweringly high levels of prejudice that were intertwined in the everyday thinking of the majority of the characters in the book supports the fact that Tom Robinson never stood a chance of getting a fair trial.
Racial prejudice is widespread in the county of Maycomb, and a prime example is the Tom Robinson case. Tom, a black man, was accused of raping Mayella, a white woman. Atticus puts forward all evidence from his witnesses that clearly proves Tom was innocent, Jem even says, ?and we?re gonna win Scout. I don?t see how we can?t? (pg 206), but Tom still received a ?Guilty? verdict. Atticus tried removing the prejudiced thoughts of the jurors by saying, ??the assumption - the evil assumption - that all Negroes lie, that all Negroes are basically immoral beings??. (pg 208). Atticus? saying insinuated the point that all of God?s children were created equal. To the jury, the only important thing was that Tom was black and the accuser was white, he never stood a chance under those conditions. These racial tensions between blacks and whites had made their way into the courtroom, a place where everyone should receive a fair trial no matter what race or colour, but an unjust verdict was reached. The prejudice that was felt towards Tom made him lose all hope of freedom, and as a result, he died upon an escape attempt. Tom was victim of racial prejudice and loss of hope.
Tom is a man who has done nothing wrong. Living with his wife and three children, he is a clean man. A man who has nothing to hide. He even went out of his way to help Mayella Ewell. With no obligation to help her, Tom does so out of the kindness of his heart. Despite Tom’s kindhearted nature, others think of him as guilty before the trial. Many people in town believe that Atticus shouldn’t do much about defending Tom. Largely because he is a Negro and to the people of Maycomb “all Negroes lie”(273). Maycomb’s townsfolk takes the word of a white bluejay like Ewell over a black mockingbird like Tom. When several of the Cunninghams attempt to lynch Tom, it demonstrates how the town has already decided the fate of one mockingbird. Even in a court of law, which is where a person “ought to get a square deal”(295), Tom receives the fatal ‘shot’. His jury convicts him on little evidence. In fact, no concrete evidence is provided to prove that Tom does anything to Mayella. The jury sentences Tom to death based off prior prejudices. Because of this decision, Tom Robinson is literally shot. He gives up hope and tries to escape because he has been metaphorically shot one too many times. The jurors are directly responsible for the death of a
At the time To Kill a Mockingbird was published, the Civil Rights era was in full swing. Brown v. Board of Education had legally ended de jure segregation, segregation by law, in schools, but de facto segregation, segregation by fact/circumstance, still ran rampant in the South. Although all were supposed to be created equal in the court, juries were still primarily made up of white men whose racist biases often impeded their impartiality ("Historical Context: To Kill a Mockingbird."). Atticus brings out the truth to his community; whether or not they admit to it, everybody knows that Tom Robinson is innocent. He destroys whatever little is left of Bob Ewell's reputation and pride. He reminds all that they, too, should pursue
In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, the town Maycomb has a big role in why a lot of things went the way they did. Maycomb was very prejudiced, the way the town is is immensely segregated. Because of the segregation, Tom Robinson lost the case. Even though all the evidence pointed to the fact that he did not do it, since he was a black male everyone automatically assumed he did it.
In our world today, racism is still a big issue in our everyday lives. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, it is proven that racism in Macomb County influenced how the townsfolk acted and did things because of injustice, the discrediting of people who associated with colored people, and those who were trying to help them were discriminated.
In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird unfairness is the main theme that is reflected towards many characters. Many characters are treated unfairly based on race or their attitude towards the society they live in. The town of Maycomb becomes very unfair when Atticus defends Tom Robinson, an African- American who has been accused of rape. unfortunately,